Australia

Conference: Partnerships for social inclusion (Melbourne, Australia)

Jointly organised by the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Melbourne, the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development and the OECD LEED Programme

Participation in social, economic and civic life should be open to everybody. It is important to the wellbeing and prosperity of individuals, families and communities. Exclusion can mean loss of access to services, to supportive networks and to opportunities for skills and jobs, leading to poverty, poor health status, and low productivity. Social exclusion is not only a social issue but an economic issue as well.

Increasing social inclusion requires a joined-up approach that cuts across policy departments. Effective action means that the public sector should re-think the way it operates, moving from a traditional hierarchical model to one characterised by multi-sectoral partnerships and flexibility in policy delivery.

The development and nature of these partnerships and the implications for public policy will be the central theme of the Partnerships for Social Inclusion conference from 15-16 October 2008 in Melbourne.

This conference provided an opportunity for government, academics and practitioners from across Australia, New Zealand and the region to discuss current practice, as well as explore future directions. The conference was the first event as part of the OECD LEED Forum on Partnerships and Local Governance in the region. Outcomes of the conference informed orientations of the Forum work in the region over the next few years.

The conference was a collaboration between the Centre for Public Policy at the University of Melbourne, the Victorian Department of Planning and Community Development, the Australian Government and the OECD’s Local Economic and Employment Development Programme.